The Boston Bruins announced the signing of veteran center Dominic Moore to a one-year contract worth $900,000 on Tuesday, giving head coach Claude Julien quite a few centers to worth with when training camp and the preseason begin.

The Bruins entered the offseason having two legitimate top-six centers in Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, and they signed another in David Backes as a free agent in July.

They also must find a spot for young center Ryan Spooner to continue his development. Noel Acciari and Riley Nash also are capable of playing down the middle. One or more of these centers might have to play on the wing, but it’s not a bad problem to have. The Bruins might need to score a lot of goals this season to overcome their lack of elite blue-line depth.

Boston ranked fifth in goals scored per game and seventh in power-play percentage last season, and it has the scoring depth to match or better those totals if most everyone is healthy throughout the 2016-17 campaign.

Dean played four seasons at the University of New Hampshire from 1987 to 1991, then began a seven-year NHL career that included stints with the New Jersey Devils, Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks.

The 47-year-old transitioned to coaching in 2006, spending four seasons as an assistant with the AHL’s Lowell Devils and one as head coach of the ECHL’s Trenton Devils before landing in Providence in 2011.

“(Bruins general manager Don Sweeney) offered me the job on Friday, and I eagerly accepted,” Dean told Mark Divver of The Providence Jounal. “I’m excited, a little daunted, but not really. More excited.

“It’s a big job. I understand where the Bruins want to get to. All those pieces that will be coming through Providence in the next little while will be important.’’

Subban took a puck to the throat during warmups before the Providence Bruins’ Feb. 6 game against the Portland Pirates and immediately assumed it wasn’t a big deal. The Bruins goaltending prospect ended up staying in the hospital for five days for a scary neck injury that derailed his 2015-16 AHL season and left him temporarily unable to communicate with others except for via text.

“I honestly thought I just got hit, it was just swollen and I was going to have to come back and back up on the bench and be freezing cold,” Subban told reporters Tuesday at Bruins development camp. “That’s what I thought was going to happen. I didn’t think anything serious happened, to be honest.”

Subban initially tried to drink water and indicate he was fine upon being drilled in the throat, but it soon became clear the issue was more serious than the young netminder believed. The next thing Subban knew, he was waking up with tubes down his throat.

“It was pretty crazy. I was pretty drugged up at the hospital, so I don’t remember much of it,” Subban told reporters. “It’s been a pretty long road back with plenty of off-ice work before I got on the ice. I feel pretty good right now. Obviously, it’s the summer and I’m trying out new gear and stuff. I’m just working on getting ready for training camp.”

Among Subban’s revamped goalie gear is a new neck guard, which should prevent anything from happening to the area repaired by surgery and, in turn, perhaps give the 22-year-old some additional peace of mind between the pipes.

“I’ve been hit in the neck before. I have all the gear on now, the protection and stuff. I’ve gotten used to it,” Subban said. “Honestly, I feel like a tank. I’m not even worried at all about getting hit again.”

Now, the tank must figure out a way to crack the Bruins’ roster with recently signed Anton Khudobin joining Tuukka Rask on the Bruins’ goaltending depth chart.

The Boston Bruins announced a few coaching changes Tuesday for the upcoming NHL season.

Bruce Cassidy and Jay Pandolfo were added to head coach Claude Julien’s staff as assistants, while assistant Doug Jarvis will not be retained. Cassidy and Pandolfo join Joe Sacco and Bob Essensa as the assistants on the Bruins’ bench.

Cassidy has spent the last five seasons as the head coach of Boston’s AHL affiliate in Providence. He has done a great job developing talent within Julien’s defense-first system and tallied a 207-128-45 record with the P-Bruins. He also spent a little more than one season as Washington Capitals head coach before being fired in 2003-04.

Pandolfo has spent the last two seasons in the B’s front office, most recently serving as the director of player development.

The Boston Bruins added depth to their blue line Tuesday by recalling defenseman Colin Miller from the AHL’s Providence Bruins. The team also assigned forward Seth Griffith to Providence.

Miller will provide speed, playmaking and more offensive skill to a B’s team in need of better breakouts and puck possession over the final three games of the season, a stretch that begins Tuesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes at TD Garden.

Miller, who Bruins head coach Claude Julien confirmed will play versus Carolina, has tallied 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 39 games for Boston this season. Griffith hasn’t been much of a factor at the NHL level with zero goals and one assist in four games this campaign.

It’s also possible veteran D-man Kevan Miller returns to the lineup Tuesday. He missed Sunday’s loss to the Chicago Blackhawks with an injury.

Morrow, Trotman, Randell last guys on ice, pretty much confirming #NHLBruins will have K.Miller and C.Miller on D, and Hayes in vs. 'Canes.

Frank Vatrano’s first career NHL stint came to an end Jan. 21. Since then, he has treated the American Hockey League like his own personal playground.

In 18 games for the Boston Bruins’ minor league affiliate following his reassignment to Providence, Vatrano has scored 19 goals. Included in that six-week span have been six multi-goal games and two hat tricks, the most recent of which came Sunday night in an overtime win over the Portland Pirates.

The 21-year-old forward, who played in 10 games for the P-Bruins before his promotion to the big club, entered Monday as the AHL leader in goals with 29 despite appearing in less than half of Providence’s games. He has played in just 28 games at the AHL level this season; the league’s second-, third- and fourth-ranked goal-scorers all have played in more than 50.

So the obvious question now is: When will the Bruins decide to give Vatrano another shot? Let’s take a closer look at that.

The UMass product doesn’t have much left to prove in the minors. He has shown that, at the AHL level, he can score goals at an alarming rate and do so over an extended period of time.

But success in Providence doesn’t always translate when players trade the spoked-P for a spoked-B. We’ve seen that with Alex Khokhlachev, who ranks second on the Baby B’s in points this season but has been invisible in three NHL call-ups, and even with Vatrano himself.

Though Vatrano’s 30-game stint with Boston included some particularly memorable highs — a goal in his debut, a game-winner two weeks later and a hat trick in a rout of the Pittsburgh Penguins — the rookie did not exactly light the world on fire in his first taste of NHL action. In fact, he failed to record a point in 26 of those games, including 12 of the final 13 before he was sent back down.

Consider also that Boston’s forward group as a whole has improved since the trade-deadline acquisition of Lee Stempniak, the promotion of Noel Acciari and the reassignments of Max Talbot, Zac Rinaldo and Joonas Kemppainen to Providence. Coming off strong showings against the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals, now might not be the time to shake things up, especially with the Bruins in the midst of a playoff push.

Vatrano has the potential to be an impact player for the Bruins for years to come, and it would not be at all shocking to see him in a Boston uniform again before the end of the season. Just don’t be surprised if that doesn’t happen right away.

Zac Rinaldo now has a five-game suspension in both the NHL and the AHL.

The AHL announced Monday that the Boston Bruins forward has been suspended five games for a high hit he delivered Friday night while playing for the Providence Bruins. Rinaldo received a match penalty for the hit, which carries an indefinite suspension.

Rinaldo’s five-game AHL ban came in the midst of an NHL suspension. He was forced to sit five games for a separate high hit on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Cedric Paquette on Feb. 28. The announcement for that suspension came after Rinaldo was assigned to Providence, which means the 25-year-old would have to serve the ban upon returning to the NHL.

Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images

Filed under: Boston Bruins, Providence Bruins, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2016/03/zac-rinaldo-suspended-five-games-by-ahl-for-hit-in-p-bruins-game-video/feed/00Zac RinaldonesnmcoleNavy Dad Makes Surprise Reunion With 4-Year-Old Son At P-Bruins Game (Video)http://nesn.com/2016/03/navy-dad-makes-surprise-reunion-with-son-4-at-providence-bruins-game-video/
http://nesn.com/2016/03/navy-dad-makes-surprise-reunion-with-son-4-at-providence-bruins-game-video/#respondTue, 01 Mar 2016 17:23:05 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=575466Read More »]]>Intermission hockey games involving kids are great. So are military family reunions. When the two come together, they form a special, emotional mix.

Sunday’s AHL game between the Providence Bruins and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins featured both, WPRI’s Yianni Kourakis reported.

U.S. Navy officer Christopher Oliver reunited with his 4-year-old son, Gunner, on the ice at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. Gunner’s reaction suggests he didn’t expect to see his dad, who had returned home after months serving in the Persian Gulf.

Onlookers near and far enjoyed Oliver’s homecoming, and the the P-Bruins went on to win 3-2.

BOSTON — The Bruins acquired Lee Stempniak in a trade with the New Jersey Devils on Monday, giving them a logjam of forwards.

B’s general manager Don Sweeney confirmed after the 3 p.m. ET deadline that Max Talbot, Joonas Kemppainen and Zac Rinaldo had all been assigned to the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins.

“As I mentioned yesterday, it was about getting ahead of the deadline to have some flexibility depending on the players who may or may not be acquired,” Sweeney said. “Very difficult conversations to have with players at that particular time.

“I’ll sit with (B’s head coach Claude Julien) tonight and spend some time looking at our roster going forward. You have to manage the recall situation. Now it’s about putting forth the best team on the ice we possibly can each and every night to win our hockey games and get us where we want to be.”

These assignments give the Bruins 12 forwards for Tuesday night’s game against the Calgary Flames at TD Garden, assuming Stempniak makes it to Boston on time. Landon Ferraro is the most likely candidate to center the fourth line.

Malcolm Subban will miss at least two months of the AHL and NHL seasons, but he’s on the road to recovery.

The Boston Bruins goaltender fractured his larynx after getting hit in the throat with a puck on Feb. 6 while playing with the Providence Bruins. The team originally said Subban would be out indefinitely, but there’s now a little more information on how the 22-year-old is doing.

“Malcolm underwent successful surgery on February 8 at Mass. Eye and Ear Hospital in Boston to repair his larynx fracture,” the Bruins said Thursday in a statement. “He is doing well and has been released from the hospital. While there is no definitive timetable for his return at this time, he is expected to be out a minimum of eight weeks.”

Subban has played in only one NHL game in his young career, and it was a 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues during the 2014-15 season. In 27 games for Providence this year, Subban is 14-8-5 with a 2.46 goals against average, a .911 save percentage and one shutout.

His call-up comes less than 24 hours after Chris Kelly broke his left femur in the first period of Tuesday night’s 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars.

Talbot does not bring as much two-way skill as Kelly, but he does give Julien another option for the bottom-six and the penalty kill. Kelly has been an important part of the penalty kill since the B’s acquired him via trade in 2011.

Talbot has played only two games for the Bruins this season. He’s scoreless with zero shots on goal.

Editor’s Note: Bruins Prospects Update will be a monthly feature where we recap the performance of five notable prospects at the junior, NCAA and AHL levels.

October was a good month for the Bruins on a few levels. The NHL club finished tied for second place in the Atlantic Division despite starting the season 0-3-0, and several of the team’s prospects played at a high level for their respective teams.

This month’s recap features three players from Boston’s 10-man 2015 draft class.

Lauzon has put his offensive skills on display through 15 games. His 24 points rank second among QMJHL defensemen and third among all Huskies players. Lauzon’s smooth skating, quality playmaking skill and accurate shot from the point have helped him go on an impressive scoring streak over the first month of the campaign.

Another 2 A for Jeremy Lauzon last night. 14 game point streak, club record was 11 gms. Pace is 60 GP, 12 G, 84 A. pic.twitter.com/5mBB1kDCVS

Vatrano has been the most impressive goal-scorer in the AHL with an incredible goal-per-game pace. His 10 goals leads the league and his 12 points rank tied for second. The 21-year-old center has scored in six of his 10 games played, including a four-goal performance Oct. 10. Vatrano could be one of the first players to receive a call up to Boston when/if injuries test the Bruins’ depth.

Heinen is one of the most impressive prospects in the Bruins organization. The only freshman with more points than Heinen last season was No. 2 draft pick Jack Eichel of Boston University, and his sophomore campaign is off to a nice start.

Heinen scored twice and added an assist against No. 3-ranked Boston College last Friday, and he also has 18 shots on goal through six games.

DeBrusk ranks 18th in WHL scoring and second on the Broncos with 20 points. He’s failed to tally a point in just two of his 13 games played, and he finished the month with 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in his final six games, highlighted by a four-assist game on Halloween.

Forsbacka-Karlsson is a two-way center who plays a responsible, smart defensive game and excels on faceoffs. He’s also providing the No. 11-ranked BU Terriers with some offense. JFK has been a point-per-game player through the team’s first six games.

This was one of the most underrated picks in the second round of June’s draft, and the results to this point have been encouraging for the Bruins.

Talbot, 31, is scoreless in two games played for Boston this season, with his most recent appearance coming Oct. 12 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has been a healthy scratch for several of the Bruins’ first seven games.

Talbot was acquired by the Bruins at last season’s trade deadline in a deal that sent former first-round draft pick Jordan Caron to the Colorado Avalanche.

Talbot is in the final year of his contract. He previously played for the Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins. His two goals in Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Final propelled the Penguins to a championship over the Detroit Red Wings.

Vatrano, who appeared in five games for Providence last season after signing a free-agent contract in March, spent training camp with the big club. The 21-year-old forward failed to record a point in three preseason games but displayed many positives before ultimately being sent down.

The Baby B’s also got three points from Austin Czarnik (goal, two assists), two assists from Alexander Khokhlachev and a goal from Ben Youds on Sunday in their first win of the season.

BOSTON — Alexander Khokhlachev was frustrated early in Boston Bruins training camp about the chances he’s had to make the roster, saying he “will not play in Providence” all his life.

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney was asked Thursday about Khokhlachev’s comments and reiterated the young center has plenty of potential as he fights for a bottom-six forward spot this season.

“All players are entitled to their opinion,” Sweeney said during Bruins media day at TD Garden. “I feel Alexander has tremendous upside, skill-wise. He still has a lot to learn away from the puck. He needs to go through these experiences. He’s only 22 years old.

“I look at the big picture with all of our young players. They’ll determine when they’re ready to play and when they’ll help us at the NHL level. I do believe he’s a player who can step in — whether or not he can play up and down the lineup sort of remains to be seen.”

Cracking the Bruins’ lineup often requires forwards to play smart defensively and help blueliners on breakouts. Claude Julien is a defense-first coach, and not being a liability on that end probably is the best way to earn his trust and ice time.

Khokhlachev, a 2011 second-round draft pick who has played in just four games for Boston, still has to improve in the finer points of the game, as many young forwards do.

“We want him to continue to work hard to fill in those gaps, whether it be faceoffs,” Sweeney said. “There’s small details of the game that show up on the scoresheet each night, and those things can add up.

“The amount of time you spend in your own end after losing draws, at times it’s taxing on other players. There’s just little areas of the game that everybody as a young player needs to go through and experience and come out the other side of them better. He wants to advocate for himself, and I don’t blame him for that from that standpoint. So I didn’t feel the need to comment publicly on it.”

Forwards Noel Acciari, Anthony Camara, Brandon DeFazio, Justin Hickman and Ben Sexton were sent to Providence Bruins training camp. Defensemen Chris Breen and Ben Youds, as well as goaltender Zane McIntyre also will take part in P-Bruins camp.

Brandon Carlo, one of Boston’s second-round picks in the 2015 draft, was sent back to the WHL’s Tri-City Americans. The 18-year-old defenseman signed an entry-level contract with the B’s earlier in the week.

Subban and McIntyre’s departure from camp means the competition for the Bruins backup goalie job is between Jonas Gustavsson and Jeremy Smith. Gustavsson is in camp on a professional tryout (PTO).

Boston’s next preseason game is Monday night at TD Garden against the Detroit Red Wings.

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney announced Thursday the team has entered into a relationship with the Gwinnett Gladiators to be their ECHL affiliate for the 2015-16 season. As a result, Boston can designate players in its development system to the ECHL team for the upcoming season.

The Gladiators are based in Duluth, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta.

“The Boston Bruins and Providence Bruins are very excited to be forging a new development affiliation with the Gladiators,” Sweeney said in a press release Thursday. “Working with a proud franchise and being a part of the passionate fans in the Duluth community will provide a tremendous opportunity for our young players to continue to grow and help them to reach their full potential as professional hockey players.”

This isn’t the first ECHL affiliation for the Bruins, who previously have aligned with the South Carolina Stingrays and Reading Royals.

WILMINGTON, Mass. — Noel Acciari played a major role in Providence College’s run to an NCAA national championship last season as the Friars defeated Boston University 4-3 in the title game at TD Garden.

The 23-year-old forward set career highs with 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points in 41 games, while also being named Hockey East’s Defensive Player of the Year.

After signing an entry-level contract with the Bruins in June, Acciari has an opportunity to make a positive impact with another Providence-based team: the AHL’s Providence Bruins. The first step in his journey as a pro began Tuesday when Boston Bruins development camp opened at Ristuccia Arena, where Acciari was among 36 players in attendance.

“It’s been a blast, a bit tiring. It’s been a long day,” Acciari said. “But I feel good, it’s a good group of guys out there and I’m excited for the week.”

Acciari could have signed with any team as a free agent, but he chose the Bruins, a team he’s watched his whole life.

“I weighed my options, but Boston has always been a dream of mine,” Acciari said. “Playing at Providence College, it was unbelievable there. Being with the Bruins now, you can’t ask for anything more.”

Leaving a fantastic Division I program in Providence wasn’t easy, though, especially after he enjoyed so much success as a junior in 2014-15.

“It was a tough choice because I was leaving a great group of guys, great coach,” Acciari said. “I also have to start thinking about my future and the biggest thing was, I did get my degree, so that was a big factor. It was tough, but I think I made the right decision and now I just have to play my game.”

Acciari likely will start the 2015-16 campaign in Providence, where he’ll be an important player at both ends of the ice and most likely take on a leadership role at some point for the P-Bruins.

According to reports, including his own Twitter account, Robins is retiring from pro hockey.

“It’s almost like I got a new lease on life,” Robins told Mark Divver of The Providence Journal. “One chapter ended — not the way I expected it to end. But I think everything that happens, there’s a bigger picture going on. In the end, it made me stronger and I found out a lot about myself, not just as a hockey player but as a human being.”

The Boston Bruins have assigned forwards Ryan Spooner and David Pastrnak along with defenseman Zach Trotman to the AHL’s Providence Bruins, the team announced Monday night.

These players now are able to play in the P-Bruins’ three remaining regular-season games and all of the team’s AHL playoff games.

This move makes sense because it will allow all of them to gain more pro experience and play in pressure situations during the AHL playoffs. A few of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s talented young forwards played on the 2011-12 AHL champion Norfolk Admirals team, and it helped prepare them for NHL success.

At Monday morning’s break-up day media availability, Spooner said he didn’t know if the Bruins would send him to Providence, but that he wouldn’t mind the opportunity to help many of his former teammates pursue a Calder Cup title.

“Last year we made it to the second round, year before that second round,” Spooner said. “They have a good team down there. We’re young and we’re skilled. I would love to go down there and help. Hopefully we can win and see how that goes.”

Pastrnak (27 points in 24 games), Spooner (18 points in 33 games) and Trotman (10 points in 38 games) all played for Providence earlier this season.